Best Barrel Length for 357 Magnum Rifle. It is a good idea to keep the ball rolling in the middle of the racetrack, which allows you to easily move to the left or the right to evade the obstacles. Overall, if you could only pick one barrel length for any application (or multiple applications with the same firearm), something like an AR-15 pistol with an ~8" barrel will be great. Check out www.ballisticsbytheinch.com for actual test chronograph data. In a duty-sized revolver with a big heavy frame and 4-inch barrel, the 357 Magnum is a tight little shooter that's slightly stout. This can depend on a number of factors, such as burn rate of the propellant, bore diameter, and probably others as well. Frankly, I had been expecting more consistent terminal results with the .357 Mag. Using data from BallisticsByTheInch.com, out of a 16-inch rifle the .357's velocity jumps on average around 500 fps at the muzzle compared to out of a 4-inch revolver.Furthermore, with the right load the magnum can easily break the 2,000-fps mark. Velocity by barrel length for 9x18mm Ultra - Data sourced from Ballistics by the Inch. We have a number of ways you can help to support Firearm Wiki, including various affiliates. The .30-30s biggest drawback: its a shorter-range cartridge, due to the flat-point bullets that must be used in a tubular magazine. I suppose articles like this are of great importance for the simple minded who are clueless theres a huge difference between rifle and pistol ammunition and have never taken the time to read the specific ballistic data printed right on new ammunition boxes containing 30-30 or 357 cartridges, or notice that 30-30 brass is a lot BIGGER than 357 mag brass, or are oblivious to the abundance of ballistic info 101 that can be accessed online in seconds. Advertised as the world's most powerful handgun cartridge, the .357 retained this title for some 20 years. It was originally designed and released in 1934 by Phil Sharpe, and Elmer Keith. Note: If you're looking for absolute maximum range from something like an AR-15 platform, it may be worth considering cartridges like the 6.5 Grendel, .224 Valkyrie, and others. Keep in mind that according to the data above, velocity gains at longer than 16" barrel length were fairly negligible, so 16" appears to be more than enough overall. Comparing a .357 Magnum to a 9mm handgun is quite a statement. Our .357 Magnum pistol: a 1980s Smith & Wesson Model 686 with a 4 barrel. Our .30-30: an early-1990s Winchester Model 1894 'Trapper' with a 16.5 barrel. Cylinder Gap tests. It has an 18 round barrel, weighs a little over six pounds, and holds 9+1 rounds. The major question still comes down to whether you plan on using a silencer or not. Not laughingsaw a trick shot guy using a Rossi as this main gun. So I would imagine that back in the day youd either carry matching .44-40s or carry a .45 Colt and a more powerful single shot rifle such as .45-70. But as an example, Volquartzen offers match-grade bull barrels in lengths like 16.5" as well. Too fast and it breaks up. Max expansion: 0.557 I used the joules measurement in error. If you dont own one, you should. Buffalo Bore also claims that their "Heavy" .357 Magnum hard cast 158-grain loads will produce 2153 fps and 1626 lb-ft from an 18 carbine. On the bull at 100. When and if I get some of these to test Ill post the results, but for big game Id still rather have a .30-30. we all could learn something. For example, going from a 4" barrel to 7" (a 3 inch difference), every load got well over a 100 fps increase in velocity. Wish I still had mine. over the decades and it has been used in rifles as well as pistols. http://ballistics101.com/30-30_winchester.php, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-30_Winchester, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/.357_Magnum. This could be acceptable for 5.56 but not as justifiable in a shorter range .300 Blackout rifle. chill out seal team six. If it crashes into the wall of the tunnel, the run is over. . Thank you. This page will examine barrel length to velocity differences for various calibers. But I have an AR-15 in the next corner just in case. Home > Uncategorized > 357 magnum ballistics 20 inch barrel. Gel has similar organic properties to flesh and tissue and provides a similar resistance. I've read that after 16-18" the 44 will actually slow down. Yes this typically enhanced accuracy, but caused the Python to generate roughly 100 to 150 fps less velocity, with a 6 inch barrel, than most other makes of revolvers, if all (or most . The 2.25-inch and 3-inch models offer synthetic black grips, front ramp sight, and fixed rear sight. Im also a novice who is grateful for the information & the personal opinions/experiences in the comments. were either familiar with, or because they were what was available, and mentioning Compared to the 9mm there is no contest the 10mm's heavier, faster bullet necessarily does far . I read your blog its really informative for me I also share this article with my friends keep it upheart touching poetry in Urduthanks for sharing. That will go clean through a horse at 100 yards and kill whatever is hiding behind it. . Go get some full-power .357 loads with 158 to 170 grain bullets and compare them to the similar weight .30-30 ones. If your gun is likely to be used primarily for recreational shooting, hunting medium game within 100 yards, or defensive use, the .357 is superior. Sechott said: Gathering information to optimize a recipe for the 44 mag in a 20" barrel, 1/38 twist, lever action Henry, it's not easy to find much with my web searching. For example, two revolvers of the same caliber and barrel length could differ in their amount of cylinder gap, allowing one to waste a bit more energy than the other. It's real hard to argue with ten rounds of 357 magnum. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. The .357s handgun ballistics are impressive indeed, but how much more impressive does it get from an extra fourteen inches of barrel? I have a Marlin 336BL in the corner thats my go to rifle. Although the bullets are almost the same diameter, the case length and case capacity are strikingly different. The data from these two guns is quite similar. over what ammo or caliber or gun is "best." Hell, in Utah they use it to execute two-legged predators. The 6mm ARC seems to have impressive potential from our understanding. The Model 1894CS .357 will be initially offered in carbine configuration with an 18.5-inch barrel. If the ball collides with them, slope io game is over. The table below shows velocity and barrel length data for various .22 Magnum loadings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzrxHjX7eWo. It is meant to replicate .44 Magnum performance in a .45 ACP semi-automatic handgun. That suggests you will get different terminal performance firing the same cartridge out of your revolver and your rifle. For maximum velocity with 5.56x45mm NATO, a 20-inch barrel will give the most velocity possible out of a common barrel length rifle. Ruger also offers a 4.2-inch model that sports a fiber optic front sight and adjustable rear sight. These little handguns commonly have a cylinder that holds only five cartridges and a barrel that's about two inches long. - From MrGunsnGear on YouTube. Velocity by barrel length for the .380 ACP - Data sourced from Ballistics by the Inch. .357 is a revolver cartridge. You could even go shorter, but the additional length of a suppressor probably won't fully make up for performance loss with a shorter barrel. Please know that we only recommend products we trust and have used ourselves. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Editors Picks 2018: Ruger GP100 Revolver, Review: Henry Big Boy .357 Mag. The short-barreled .30-30 did not produce obnoxious muzzle blast or excessive recoil; in fact it exhibited no particular vices at all other than its sighting apparatus. This information has been sourced from Ballistics by the Inch. Remington's 125-grain SJHP .357 Magnum round runs at 1,514 f.p.s. Therefore, the ball can fall out of the racetrack easily. Velocity by barrel length for .32 H&R Magnum - Information sourced from Ballistics by the Inch. The beauty of the snub-nose revolver is its ease of concealment and the choice to carry one over a larger handgun is likely based on carry comfort rather than terminal performance. Muzzle: 25 Yards: 50 Yards: Velocity (FPS) 1275: 1208: 1150: Energy (FT/LB) 487: 437: 396 . Despite the fact there is little commercial production for the .357 Remington maximum, the cartridge is well liked by hunters who understand the velocities, energy, and recoil it produces makes for a very efficient and manageable cartridge. I keep my .30-30 loaded with Federal 125gr. ATTENTION: Effective Sept 1, 2020, the BBTI Project is in "Archive Status." No further tests will be conducted, but we will maintain this site and data for the use of the firearms community. . True dat, but that kind of defeats the purpose of the matching caliber pistol/rifle combo. If you were looking for a rifle setup, there appears to be no major reason to go above the federal 16" barrel requirement, unless local laws differ, or whatever the case may be. This data can be especially useful, since this cartridge has gained significant popularity for self-defense, especially in smaller revolvers. Korth Mongoose. pretty cool. Consider that this is the basic setup of the U.S. military's former Mk 12 Mod 0 "SPR" (Special Purpose Rifle), which was said to have an effective range up to 700 meters. The Remington website lists their 170-grain .30-30 at 2200 fps and 1827 lb-ft, and the shorty Trapper averaged a real-life 1986 fps and 1489 lb-ft: thats less than a 10 percent velocity penalty and an 18 percent energy penalty. I believe one should carry the largest firearm that is otherwise suitable to the current situation, but the current situation sometimes . At 150, four of the five loads were in the -4 to -6 inch range. Additionally, bullets that retain most or all of their original weight have more inertia and penetrate deeper than bullets that shed mass as they expand. Although factory ammo is optimized for 6" barrels, a recipe for rifle length . Ruger LCRx Model 5460 357 Magnum, $669 . We'd like to personally and specifically thank Pat Childs at Fin & Feather in Iowa City, as he not only helped get most of our Original .357 Magnum specs touted the muzzle velocity for a 158-grain, lead SWC bullet of more than 1,500 fps from an 8-inch barrel. There are merits to carrying a .357 snub, of course. JHP. Anything longer is even more non-standard, and has diminishing returns, though still does offer velocity advantage. Or not. the figures were 1,187 fps and 1,331 fps. up to you. Yoga bolster Online For 38 Special practice ammo, such as lead round nose or wadcutters, you should expect to pay about $0.60/round while premium hollow point ammo will run around $1.50/round and up at the time of writing. With typical .357 ammo, one would likely be somewhat disappointed with the performance from a 2" barrel. I was surprised by the level of detail and the amount of information that was available. Likewise, semi-automatic or fully-automatic firearms will typically have lower muzzle velocity due to some of the propellant's energy being bled off into the gas system to work the action, and this can vary by individual firearm as well. calibers/cartridges + It has an 18 round barrel, weighs a little over six pounds, and holds 9+1 rounds. Please know that we only recommend products we trust and have used ourselves. And the .30-30 still dramatically outperforms these exotic .357s at longer ranges. After about 8 theres nothing left to gain from any longer barrel in 9mm. As far as ballistics, when fired from a 6-inch barrel revolver, a heavy 240-grain .44 Magnum bullet can reach speeds of up to 1,380 feet per second, generating kinetic energy at the muzzle of 1,015 foot-pounds of force.That's plenty of power, enough to take down up to deer-size game at distances of up to 50 yards. Another dumb comment about this dumb article. What does the group think or better have had experience with Speer 135 grain Gold Dot in a SP101 357 Magnum with a 2.25"barrel. Right there with you Haz! Our .357 Magnum pistol: a 1980s Smith & Wesson Model 686 with a 4 barrel. quickly became known as a fight stopper and is the yardstick by which law enforcement ammunition is still judged to this day. I want a levergun in .357 mag so bad, Im waiting for a production lever gun in .357 Max, got money on the table. I thought that higher velocity was everything I wanted when I started handloading a variety of powders and bullets for a .357 Magnum Uberti Lightning Short Rifle pump action with a 20-inch barrel. or just newbies to the field exploring a rich resource. However, my finding is that the .357 Mag., fired from the snub-nosed revolver, can be an effective choice for self-defense but is very much dependent on the ammo chosen. But that works out pretty well because I just move the rear sight up or down a notch and both loads hit right on target. For uses other than big-game hunting, .357 Magnum carbines have other benefits which have nothing to do with ballistics. Ive considered a 923 (Largo) PCC build for a while now. Shooting jacketed bullets through the Uberti isnt a problem, because they dont have an abrupt edge from the nose back toward full diameter; but swaged lead semi-wadcutter bullets and bullets cast from moulds like the RCBS 38-150-SWC and Lyman 358156 refused to enter the chamber. Following the sale of Remington Outdoor Company's assets in September 2020, Vista Outdoor purchased Remington Ammunition. Fuck the internet. The same caliber gun with the same barrel length could even show different results. Only an idiot would need to read an article to grasp and understand that ANY 30-30 rifle cartridge is vastly more powerful and ballistically superior to ANY 357 magnum cartridge. Correction on 2nd lb-ft calculation. Most loads tested surprised me and I fired several groups of five rounds that came close to an inch at 25 yards. 92 converted from a 32-20 Winchester . These velocity gains translate into twice the bullet energy and half as much drop out to 100 yards. It is very important for every business to stay competitive Would be far better utalized. The .30-30 was once the standard North American big-game hunting cartridge. This would place it in the middle of the pack for .30-30 ballistics, at least within 100 yards, at a cost about equal to premium .30-30 ammo. I recently tested several .38 Spl. Sold me on the only .357 mag ammo available at the LGS at the time; 180gr Remington SJHP. I would go with whichever one you shoot better. Max. Although that killing power number is based on published Winchester factory load ballistics taken in a 20" test barrel, a reasonable extrapolation might be a 16.5 inch .357 Magnum carbine still coming close enough to be about a third more potent than either the .30 Carbine or . Yowza. The Uberti doesnt have a feeding ramp at the entrance to its chamber, and bullets with a protruding shoulder catch on the bottom of the chamber mouth. Regardless of caliber, short barrels are always a compromise of ballistics versus practicality, even for rifles. I was born decades too late. The big question to ask is whether you plan on using a suppressor with your .22 Long Rifle firearm, and how long that suppressor is. Because I just got curious I grabbed my M650 (2" 357) and my calipers. If one were so inclined to use their .300 AAC Blackout setup as a full barrel length "AK replacement" in an AR-15 platform and without a suppressor, a 16" barrel will of course give you the most velocity out of any load, and more energy out of subsonic loads as well. Those Remington 125gr. How you use the data is entirely 92 with a 20 inch barrel only to test velocity loss between 20 inch and 24 inch barrels of the rifles. The .38 Special +P loads showed a 15 percent increase in velocity over the 38 Special loads, and the .357 . Not a big problem, but follow-up shots will always be faster with a full-sized 9mm automatic. Unlike a snub-nose, the 4"barrel is long enough to burn most of the powder in the barrel. If you don't own one, you should. Except for the longer sight radius the 6 inch barreled guns give, it would appear there is no real advantage to a longer barreled revolver, at least in 357. One of the main factors making the modern 9 mm Luger an adequate choice for self-defense is bullet design. BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .38 Special Results. So what they list for a 2" 357 is effectively less than what one would get with a 2" snubby. Longer the Barrel the Better. Nothing more. It appears that overall, the optimal barrel length for 9mm (for something like an AR-15 pistol build, SBR, or similar setup), is about 7 to 8 inches for maximum efficiency and handling. Work for 2-3 hours in y0ur spare time and OO get paid 1200 0n y0ur bank acc0unt every week, Get more inf0rmation 0n f0ll0wing site .. Smith & Wesson Model 19 Classic. Your choice. Henry Repeating Arms recently presented a $25,000 check a nonprofit organization that provides support and programs for the families and co-workers of firefighters killed in the line of duty. I was shooting Titegroup and Bullseye in my 4 SD9VE. The problem with 9mm is youre not gonna get any farther than Blue Dot really; Youre maxed out for burn slowness. I think either 357 or 30-30 is a great utility rifle. The heaviest .44, which was a 300-grain Black Hills, dropped like a rock at -12 inches. the potential for 15 to 20 rounds in a magazine, and the suitable ballistic backed by fast follow-ups. 357 Magnum Rifle Ballistics: This 357 Magnum Rifle Ballistics Chart shows the 140 Grain Hornady FTX travels at 1,850 feet per second with 1,064 pounds of energy at the muzzle when fired from an 18 inch barrel. Velocity by barrel length for .223 Remington - From Ballistics by the Inch. On the flip side, a bullet that fails to expand, either due to a plugged hollow point cavity or a velocity thats below the bullets design threshold, may pass through the target. Here's the inside story of what they found and how they're rebuilding an industry giant. I just bought me the Henry 357 mag.hard steel 20 inch barrel,I put me a Nikon buckmaster 2 3/9/40 scope on it . However, I suspect the window has closed on that idea. Continuing in a similar manner, I have now tested nine .357 Mag. Just like the right to bear arms, this right does not give everyone the right to carry a gun at all times. If you want maximum velocity with a barrel still shorter than the norm and don't plan on using a suppressor, 12.5" is a great choice for a pistol style setup. Too slow and the bullet wont expand. Even better, there are revolvers with barrels ~7 . Like the .38 Spl., the .357 Mag. HANDGUN BALLISTICS. S&W M19 Combat Magnum 357 Magnum, $800: Sept. 2018: B: Came with a display case and a knife with matching serial number pretty neat, but also pricey. Regardless of its success in the civilian world, the .357 Mag. . If you still wanted to maintain an ultra-short setup with a suppressor, you could go even shorter with barrel length, as the additional length of the suppressor will increase velocity. As a result, this page will act as an extra copy of that valuable data. For an overall great rifle, there's nothing wrong with the most popular barrel length of 16 inches. Also consider the lesser-known .277 Wolverine, which is a bridge between the .223/5.56 and .300 Blackout, and uses the same .223/5.56 cases to load with. site designed and maintained by Coeurbois Graphic Design, Click here Most double-action revolvers chambered in .357 Mag. You cant spray and pray like you might with a semi-auto, but these little guns are very quick. The ballistics out of those two barrels are not going to make as much difference as where the hole ends up. I resolved the problem by shooting bullets cast from an RCBS 38-158-CM mould. LMFAO! For an overall great rifle, there's nothing wrong with the most popular barrel length of 16 inches. So the differences for the 21/2 difference in barrel length were 136 fps, 144 fps and 153 fps . Also known as 9mm Parabellum, 9x19mm, etc. The beauty of the .357 Mag. 357 magnum ballistics 20 inch barrel. Bullet weight: 225 grains. for a Muzzle Energy graph for the tests in this caliber.  And remember to also check Since 1895 it may have killed more deer and elk (and cougars and coyotes) than all other calibers combined. The .357 Magnum may be the ultimate handgun cartridge produced within the last 100 years. Keep in mind that many manufacturers will not warranty their suppressors on barrels shorter than around 7.5 inches. It should have been drifted out and set aside when the Williams was installed, but it wasnt. Velocity by barrel length data for .40 Smith & Wesson - Sourced from Ballistics by the Inch. We compare the recoil and terminal effects of a light for caliber and a heavy for caliber 357 magnum defensive load. The Ubertis 20-inch barrel and closed breech fired various bullets somewhat over 800 fps faster than a revolver with a 4-inch barrel. Watch out! Additionally, barrel length on a .357 matters for performance. Mine is zeroed at 75 yards with Winchester Silvertips (~1700 fps). Power Rank: 3.68 of 7. And you were born knowing everything about all the guns, I take it? Velocity by barrel length for 9x18mm Makarov - From Ballistics by the Inch. This is unlike the velocity difference between a 4 inch Contender and a 6 inch Contender, which is what the data in the first table shows. For real life use, the 4" is easier to shoot and control, at 5' as well as 50 yards over the 2/2.5" barrels. I dont really need more for Whitetails and varmints out to 100 yards. Even a Mauser 98 is childs play to take apart and reassemble compared to any lever gun. Here are the features to watch out for. For a pistol or SBR setup, if trying to maintain decent velocity and maneuverability, anything less than a barrel in the 10-inch range seems like a hard sell because velocity begins to drop heavily. The 158-grain .357 JSP produces less energy, but it might be a better cartridge for medium-sized game at modest ranges because the bullet itself is less prone to fragmenting at these velocities. Handgun hunters use the cartridge to take game up to the size of small deer. Velocity by barrel length data for the .38 Special - Sourced from Ballistics by the Inch. Best barrel length for 5.56mm (and .223 Remington) depends on your use case. Its not just the .357 that varies point of impact by ammo. Hodgdon LilGun was a bit faster with 158-grain bullets. data is provided purely for entertainment purposes - to better facilitate arguments Now, just a fun gun sure would be fun to see what if any . Shot from the longer barrel of a rifle, though, the .357 shows a pronounced improvement in velocity and trajectory. However, I suspect the window has closed on that idea.